Takyi Amy, Sato Miho, Adjabeng Michael, Smith Chris
School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University Japan, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office Accra, Korle-Bu, Box KB 493, Accra, Ghana.
Trop Med Health. 2023 Aug 3;51(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s41182-023-00531-x.
Fertility declines with age, but it remains important to protect women from unplanned pregnancies throughout their reproductive lives. The objective of this study was to describe factors that influence modern contraceptive use among women aged 35 to 49 years and their male partners in Gomoa West District of Ghana.
In-depth interviews were conducted remotely for 22 women, 15 male partners of the women interviewed and seven family planning (FP) providers. In all, a total of 44 participants took part in the study. Seven refusals were recorded, four females and three males. Four focus group discussions were organized for 21 participants who took part in the in-depth interviews. Data collected were transcribed and coded after exporting to Nvivo12 qualitative analysis software. Thematic analysis was undertaken using an abductive approach.
Factors that influenced the use of modern contraceptives included: achieved desired family size, providing for the family, counselling by health professionals, influence of the male partner, and health reasons. Barriers cited included: religious or socio-cultural reasons, experience or fear of side effects, rumors or misconceptions, declining fertility, and the belief that contraceptive use is a matter for women. Within the study group, roughly half of women used modern contraceptives, while the majority of male partners were non-users.
Contraception among women aged 35 to 49 years and their male partners is influenced by several factors such as achieved desired family size, influence of the male partner, rumors or misconceptions, and declining fertility. Strengthening male involvement in family planning activities and health educational activities could alleviate fear and reduce misconceptions about using modern contraceptives.
生育能力会随着年龄下降，但在女性的整个生育期内，保护她们免受意外怀孕的影响仍然很重要。本研究的目的是描述影响加纳戈莫阿西区35至49岁女性及其男性伴侣使用现代避孕方法的因素。
对22名女性、15名受访女性的男性伴侣以及7名计划生育服务提供者进行了远程深入访谈。总共有44名参与者参与了该研究。记录到7例拒绝参与情况，其中4名女性，3名男性。为参与深入访谈的21名参与者组织了4次焦点小组讨论。收集到的数据在导出到Nvivo12定性分析软件后进行转录和编码。采用归纳法进行主题分析。
影响现代避孕方法使用的因素包括：达到期望的家庭规模、供养家庭、健康专业人员的咨询、男性伴侣的影响以及健康原因。提到的障碍包括：宗教或社会文化原因、对副作用的经历或恐惧、谣言或误解、生育能力下降以及认为避孕是女性的事情。在研究组中，大约一半的女性使用现代避孕方法，而大多数男性伴侣不使用。
35至49岁女性及其男性伴侣的避孕行为受到多种因素影响，如达到期望的家庭规模、男性伴侣的影响、谣言或误解以及生育能力下降。加强男性参与计划生育活动和健康教育活动可以减轻恐惧并减少对使用现代避孕方法的误解。
